"Beyond The Boundary "

The Cracks Beneath the Surface

Weeks Later - Kolkata

The city was as loud as ever, buzzing with honking cars, street food aromas, and distant howls of traffic. But inside the Gupta household, it had been oddly quiet between two people who used to text paragraphs, share Spotify links, and laugh over the silliest things.

Rihi. Shubman.

They hadn't spoken properly in weeks.

Since Goa.

"Hmm." "Okay." "Bye."

That was all she gave him now.

He tried. God, he tried. But every time he asked how she was, all he got was monosyllables.

And now, three weeks later, he was in her city, and it didn't feel like anything.

Not like it used to.

---

Eden Gardens - After the Match

Shubman sat in the locker room, still in his sweaty jersey. He stared blankly at the floor. His bat lay discarded beside him. Another match. Another flop. Another wave of headlines questioning his form.

Abhishek sat beside him, towel around his neck. "Tu thoda rest le, bro. Tere dimaag mein bohot kuch chal raha hai."
(Take little rest bro ..I think there’s a lot going on your mind)

Shubman didn't reply.

His phone buzzed. He glanced at it.

Rihi: "Congrats on the match. You'll bounce back i know ."

He laughed. A hollow, humourless chuckle.

Not even a "you okay?"

Just that. Robotic. Polite.

Not her.

Not his Rihi.

Late Night Calls - Aashna and Abhishek

Over the last three weeks, Aashna and Abhishek had stayed in touch constantly. They hadn't met-he hadn't come to their house once. But every night, they'd call. Or text. Or both.

Aashna: "Aaj bhi Rihi didi chup thi. Not even humming along to music." (Today rihi was quiet)
Abhishek: "Shubman was dead silent in the nets. Missed basic throws."
Aashna: "They've gone backward. Like complete strangers."
Abhishek: "You thinking what I'm thinking?" Aashna: "Café date setup?"
Abhishek: "Exactly."

Their late-night chats were chaotic, often flirtatious:

Aashna: "Kal ki video dekh? Meri reel fire thi na?"(saw yesterday's video my reel was fire na?)
Abhishek: "Tu toh full influencer ban rahi hai. Bas sponsored coffee ka contract reh gaya." (You're a whole time influencer now just sponsored coffee contract left)
Aashna: "You never compliment properly. Hmph."
Abhishek: "Tu cute lagti hai jab tu naraz hoti hai."(you look cute when you get angry)

But amid the fun, they were both deeply worried for the other two.

One night, on a call at 1 AM:

Aashna: "Didi was pacing the room today. She picked up her phone five times. Didn't call her once."

(Didi= elder sister in hindi )
Abhishek: "Shubman stood outside the stadium stairs. Just... staring. For like ten minutes."

Aashna sighed. "They're destroying each other."

"So we fix it."

"How?"

"We say we're all going to the café. Then cancel last minute. Leave them stuck together."